Agenda item

This report provides an update on progress of the Housing Energy Efficiency Programme, following on from the Executive Member Decision Session of 18 March 2021.

Resolved:

                      i.         Noted the implementation and delivery of the LAD1B funding and the successful application for LAD2 funding from TVCA including the tight timescales for delivery;

                     ii.         Noted the opportunity to reset the retrofit programme for Council– owned homes following the withdrawal from the WYCA Energy Accelerator project and to receive a further paper following officers consideration of the Social Housing Decarbonisation competitive funding round due to open in late Summer;

                    iii.        Supported the submission of a grant application of approximately £4.6m for the Sustainable Warmth competition as detailed in this paper; and

                   iv.        Subject to receiving grant funding following the Sustainable Warmth Fund application, a report to be brought to Executive or Executive Member Decision Session to agree acceptance of funding and the procurement approach and contract award of a partner to deliver the programme.

Reason:     To tackle fuel poverty and to meet the ambition of York being carbon neutral by 2030, to reduce energy demand as well as switching to greener forms of energy across all tenures.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided an update on progress of the Housing Energy Efficiency Programme.

The Head of Housing Delivery and Asset Management was in attendance to provide an update and answer any questions. He highlighted the background to the programme and the improvements made under the Local Authority Delivery Programme round 1B (LAD1B) and the Local Authority Delivery Programme round 2 (LAD2) funding.

Key points arising from the presentation of the report included:

·        LAD 1B funding would support, across the region, room in the roof insulation to 37 homes and cavity wall insulation to 60 homes.

·        LAD 2 funding would support, across the region, room in the roof insulation to 81 homes, loft insulation and draft proofing to 100 homes and cavity wall insulation to 60 homes.

·        All works would be undertaken in homes with occupants who were on low incomes to support fuel poverty and improve health and wellbeing and help York to achieve its 2030 carbon neutral ambition.

·        Working with partners within the region, officers anticipated that 450 energy efficiency home improvements would be supported through the LAD funding by the end of 2021.

·        The Sustainable Warmth Competition grant had opened for applications, giving council’s the opportunity to bid for funding by the 4 August 2021.  If successful this would support further work to 380 homes in the region in the private, rented and homeowner sector and would be used to reduce the energy demand in each home.

The Executive Member was also informed of a further grant opportunity, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. If successful, this would support the council’s retrofit programme.

The Executive Member noted the challenges and welcomed the progress made to develop and expand the retrofit and energy efficient programmes in the city, which would support resident’s energy bills, the city wide strategy to reduce carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty and support retrofit, homeowners and tenants.

The Executive Member commended officers for the work already achieved by maximising the funding attained so far. She also welcomed the additional staff recruited to support the programmes and she

Resolved:

                      i.         Noted the implementation and delivery of the LAD1B funding and the successful application for LAD2 funding from TVCA including the tight timescales for delivery;

                     ii.         Noted the opportunity to reset the retrofit programme for Council– owned homes following the withdrawal from the WYCA Energy Accelerator project and to receive a further paper following officers consideration of the Social Housing Decarbonisation competitive funding round due to open in late Summer;

                    iii.        Supported the submission of a grant application of approximately £4.6m for the Sustainable Warmth competition as detailed in the report; and

                   iv.        Subject to receiving grant funding following the Sustainable Warmth Fund application, a report to be brought to Executive or Executive Member Decision Session to agree acceptance of funding and the procurement approach and contract award of a partner to deliver the programme.

Reason:     To tackle fuel poverty and to meet the ambition of York being carbon neutral by 2030, to reduce energy demand as well as switching to greener forms of energy across all tenures.